Being Managed By Someone Younger

Nurses Relations

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So this question is primarily for the nurses who are older and perhaps just entering the workplace, for example as a second career (as I will be), or have been in this position when they first started out.

How do you/did you handle being managed by someone much younger? Does it bother you, or do you not give it a second thought because that person, despite their age, has much more experience? How did they handle the situation?

Just interested in different perspectives. I'm not trying to start an argument or say that younger nurses can't be great at their jobs, can't manage, or anything along those lines. I'm simply wondering if it has, or has the potential to, cause friction and how that is handled?

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Thank you all for the input, and I agree whole-heartedly with everything said; that it is down to how you are spoken to / treated and not down to the age of the person. I can see it being an issue if the person has less experience and yet is condescending and talks down to you. I personally have no issue with the age of a manager, and it is something I will actually expect (to have a younger manager, that is) since I will be closing in on 50 by the time I graduate (fingers crossed I graduate!).

So I guess my question stemmed from my current workplace where I only work part-time, and my manager has very little experience (1-2 years, compared to my 20+ years) and has said a few things that ruffled my feathers (although I bit my tongue and let it slide). I have no desire for their position and don't want to be the manager at my current workplace, so I am telling myself that I should just suck it up because they are eager and enthusiastic, and actually very good in most areas.

I was trying to look inwards and trying to ascertain whether I was irritated by their age, their approach, or the fact that they have been mildly patronizing towards me given my ample experience. Hence, these answers have provided me with some food for thought based on my visceral reaction to their style.

Furthermore, I don't want to bring a negative viewpoint with me when I transition into nursing, so I would like to confront this now before I even get onto the floor so that I can deal with (and resolve) any personal issues within myself with regard to my interaction with others if I'm ever in a similar situation.

On reflection, therefore, I really believe that it is not the age I am prickled by; it is the approach combined with the limited experience. I have no problem with the limited experience per se, but when combined with a condescending approach it irks me.

Thank you again for all for your input!

If someone younger and less experienced is talking down to you, might be time for a teaching moment. As the wiser, more experienced person, you could have a conversation with this person about how it feels to be condescended to and if she's aware that she presents that way.

You would be doing her a favour.

Nursing is about respect. I have been a Nurse almost 40 years, just about everyone i work with is younger, I don't mind at All. I learn a lot from my younger Nursing contemporaries, I learn the newest trends. They are infectious their energy, personality, sure we are from different generations, and some i am older than their mother, but if you give respect to others who are your Boss no matter what the age, and be flexible, you'll have a Great career !

I don't think age has much as a factor as experience and obviously those who are younger may have less experience. I have had managers of all ages, some great, some bad, but the common denominator for the bad ones is that they just did not have enough experience to effectively lead a team and understand what people below them were dealing with on a daily basis.

Probably fairly common given that inpatient nursing is ruled by younger people (as it is a very physical job). I'm not sure why it would be an issue. There are competent and incompetent people both young and old. Even though I started as a nurse in my 30s, often my charge nurse was younger than me but usually the nursing directors were well in to their 40s or 50s.

I started my RN career at 40 and many of my "managers" were younger. But they had been in this profession for many years and were experienced and capable. I learned a lot from them.

Age had nothing to do, as others have stated, with respect. There was only one nurse, my age, who was disrespectful. But she had some emotional issues that ended up contributing to her losing her job.

Best of luck in your new endeavor!

I have some insight on the other side of things - I am a younger nurse manager than the people I manage! This was the case in my last job as well. I am 35 but have only been a nurse 4 years actually (career change). I think because I have a background in finance and am very comfortable with fast paced admin and financial analysis work, I have morphed into the role of nurse manager. Not to downplay my role or anything, but it's not like I manage a whole unit in the hospital with 30+ nurses and ancillary staff! My last job was managing 4 medical assistants and my current job is managing a technician and one RN. Of course I also do a lot of financial analysis, troubleshooting, planning and I maintain our accreditation, but in terms of actually managing people, it's not rocket science and is probably the least stressful thing of my job.

However, all but two people I have managed have been at least 10 years older than me. Currently I am managing a nurse with his PhD in global health and he is seriously one of the smartest people I've known! He has wayyyy more experience than me overall, but I have wayyy more experience than he does in our particular specialty. Because of this, I include him every chance I feel he might learn something new. Only once have I had to speak with him about an issue and I waited until the end of the day, sat him down, and did it in the most respectful way, explaining where I was coming from and why what he did was considered wrong. I then realized that what he did was probably a result of his background in the ICU with standing orders, and asked him if this was the case - he seemed to appreciate that I wasn't implying he was an idiot and we both learned from it.

I find that showing everyone respect and keeping an environment of teamwork and collaboration is important. I like to keep things relaxed and light hearted because, well, healthcare is just stressful enough! But I can myself keeping it too light and running into issues with people taking me seriously. I've had some issues with staff in the past, and even had to write someone up once, but we got through it and I am good friends with her to this day. If you consistently ask your staff "what do you think?" "what would you do?" "can you understand where I'm coming from?" in a sort of "help me help you" attitude (and actually MEAN it!).. it probably works out more often than not because they believe you will go to bat for them and do the right thing. I think it's also important to remain flexible - for example, I do everything I can to make sure my technician is comfortable with the supplies we order for her to use. Some of her requests have been a little unreasonable, but I have suggested and ordered samples of things that are similar and I can tell she appreciates me trying instead of just telling her "no, that's too expensive, we're doing it my way." Over the last few weeks we have been able to meet in the middle on certain topics and I find she comes to me with questions in terms of what I'd like her to do and focus on.

I'm hoping I stay this lucky as the years go on!

Thank you all for the input, and I agree whole-heartedly with everything said; that it is down to how you are spoken to / treated and not down to the age of the person. I can see it being an issue if the person has less experience and yet is condescending and talks down to you. I personally have no issue with the age of a manager, and it is something I will actually expect (to have a younger manager, that is) since I will be closing in on 50 by the time I graduate (fingers crossed I graduate!).

So I guess my question stemmed from my current workplace where I only work part-time, and my manager has very little experience (1-2 years, compared to my 20+ years) and has said a few things that ruffled my feathers (although I bit my tongue and let it slide). I have no desire for their position and don't want to be the manager at my current workplace, so I am telling myself that I should just suck it up because they are eager and enthusiastic, and actually very good in most areas.

I was trying to look inwards and trying to ascertain whether I was irritated by their age, their approach, or the fact that they have been mildly patronizing towards me given my ample experience. Hence, these answers have provided me with some food for thought based on my visceral reaction to their style.

Furthermore, I don't want to bring a negative viewpoint with me when I transition into nursing, so I would like to confront this now before I even get onto the floor so that I can deal with (and resolve) any personal issues within myself with regard to my interaction with others if I'm ever in a similar situation.

On reflection, therefore, I really believe that it is not the age I am prickled by; it is the approach combined with the limited experience. I have no problem with the limited experience per se, but when combined with a condescending approach it irks me.

Thank you again for all for your input!

I applaud your seeking further understanding of your reaction! You seem to be considering every possible connection both on your own and your manager's end. You're right - she could very well be just eager, enthusiastic and even trying to flex her muscles and show her managers what she can do. If it continues to bother you, however, I wouldn't put your feelings on the back burner where they will simmer and simmer and eventually boil. I think you owe it to yourself and to her (maybe she's not aware) that you prefer she give you feedback in a different way entirely. It doesn't need to be about her age or inexperience, but as has been said, the respect (or lack thereof) of her discussions with you. If you focus just on the issue at hand objectively and for what it is, I think she'd be a fool of a manager not to listen and take heed. Best of luck - I hope it all works out for you!
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
So this question is primarily for the nurses who are older and perhaps just entering the workplace, for example as a second career (as I will be), or have been in this position when they first started out.

How do you/did you handle being managed by someone much younger? Does it bother you, or do you not give it a second thought because that person, despite their age, has much more experience? How did they handle the situation?

Just interested in different perspectives. I'm not trying to start an argument or say that younger nurses can't be great at their jobs, can't manage, or anything along those lines. I'm simply wondering if it has, or has the potential to, cause friction and how that is handled?

No one younger than me has as much experience as I do! But experience is not management experience. Lots of younger people have much more interest in or experience in management. Let them be the managers, please! I've had some great managers who are younger than me and some (although not recently) who are older than me.

The difficulty is when the manager is a poor manager. I've had one of those who systematically found other employment for everyone on the unit who was older than her or had more experience than she did when she got the job two-and-a-half years out of nursing school. I think she was 24. I had no problem with her as a manager, at least not until I saw the handwriting on the wall. I was 26 and had five years of experience. I found myself interviewing for a MICU job almost before I realized what was happening. Since then, I've had good managers and poor managers, but they were MANAGERS and I am not.

Specializes in ER.

A person's age or the title they carry does not determine their ability. The cool part is that we can all contribute, gain respect, and even lead from from the shadows just as well as we can do it while standing on a pedestal.

Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

I encounter young managers all the time. They choose to work fulltime; I do not. So naturally, one of the regulars on the floor will be in charge as opposed to a PRN person. I've served my time with being in charge of older individuals. In fact, only two of my staff was younger than I was. It didn't bother them and it sure as heck didn't bother me because they knew what their jobs were and they did it.

Today, I couldn't care less about the politics of any particular floor or who is at the helm...unless it has a direct bearing (in a negative way)on my assigned group of patients for that set 12-hour shift.

Specializes in Critical Care.

Age does not give you nursing experience. The best managers have relevant nursing experience (even better if it's recent), so that they are not disconnected with the staff. My very best manager actually picked up shifts on the floor (night/weekend) to keep up on ICU cares and skills.

Moreover, there can be crappy managers of every age.

Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

This will always, always be a fact of life for me, as I have

absolutely no desire to go into any type of management position

and will forever be a floor nurse. That is how I prefer it.

Most of my managers have been younger than me. My

last two managers were younger than me. I really don't

think much about it.

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